Elizabeth

 For the majority of us, jewelry is just that - jewelry. Jewelry is an accessory, or three, four, or six that we put on our outfits. Some jewelry is more than an accessory. Certain pieces have a long tradition and value of their own. They're an emblem of status like owning a crown or buying an exclusive island. One such piece of jewelry is the "La Peregrina" pearl. It's perhaps the most well-known pearl in the world and was sold at auction for a record-breaking $11.8 million in the year 2011. The pearl's previous owner, an Oscar-winning actress named Elizabeth Taylor, may have been a factor in the value. La Peregrina was an extremely well-known pearl prior to it was purchased by Elizabeth Taylor. Its fascinating history makes it even more impressive. A slave African slave made to work in the Gulf of Panama's Santa Margarita coast in the 16th century discovered the pearl.